Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Defensive Line
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
DL | Myles Garrett | 60 | 77% | 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). 2 QH. 1 fumble recovery. |
DL | Danny Shelton | 48 | 62% | 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). 1 pass defended. |
DL | Trevon Coley | 44 | 56% | 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). |
DL | Carl Nassib | 42 | 54% | 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 TFL. |
DL | Nate Orchard | 32 | 41% | 3 tackles (3 combined). 1 TFL. |
DL | Larry Ogunjobi | 31 | 40% | 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). |
DL | Emmanuel Ogbah | 29 | 37% | 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 TFL, 2 passes defended. |
DL | Jamie Meder | 3 | 4% | No stats registered. |
- The Browns’ depth on the defensive line was on display, as they had a respectable day despite losing Jamie Meder early on and then losing Emmanuel Ogbah late to a broken foot.
- Prior to leaving, Ogbah (81.1) was credited with a big day by PFF, including two batted balls and two run stops. His counterpart, Myles Garrett (79.8), also graded well with two run stops and three pressures.
- Although the Jaguars had 139 rushing yards on the day, Cleveland made them work for it — they did so in 44 carries, which is 3.16 per attempt, far below their season average of 4.6 YPC.
Linebacker
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
LB | Christian Kirksey | 78 | 100% | 8 tackles, 5 assists (13 combined). 1 sack, 1 QH, 1 pass defended, 1 FF. |
LB | Joe Schobert | 78 | 100% | 5 tackles, 6 assists (11 combined). 1 FF. |
LB | James Burgess | 71 | 91% | 7 tackles, 9 assists (16 combined). 1 sack, 3 TFL, 1 QH. |
LB | B.J. Bello | 10 | 13% | No stats registered. |
- Much like he did earlier this season, James Burgess answered the call when starting, leading the team with 16 tackles, 3 of which went for a loss. He also had a sack, although I personally feel like that sack should have been credited to Christian Kirksey. PFF says Burgess “made six run stops, a run stop percentage that ranked him fourth this week among 4-3 outside linebackers” and that “his pass rushing productivity ranked sixth at his position.”
- After a slow start to the year, PFF explains some of the reasons why Kirksey has been trending upward:
Kirksey’s play has been trending up the in past few weeks, and this Sunday against Jacksonville was no exception. Kirksey created two sacks, his third and fourth on the year, and is now tied for the most sacks at his position. His 30.6 pass rushing productivity was second in the league this week, as Kirksey created three total pressures in just nine pass rush snaps. He added three more run stops among his 13 tackles, giving him 22 on the year, third most among 4-3 outside linebackers.
- With Jamie Collins out, B.J. Bello saw the field for 10 snaps. He had a chance to recover a fumble near the boundary once, but he couldn’t control the ball in bounds.
Cornerback
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
CB | Jamar Taylor | 78 | 100% | 4 tackles (4 combined). 1 pass defended, 1 FF. |
CB | Jason McCourty | 77 | 99% | 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 pass defended. |
CB | Briean Boddy-Calhoun | 31 | 40% | 1 tackle (1 combined). |
- Although the Browns were never really carved up by the Jaguars, it was pretty much the same old story here: Jason McCourty delivered a shutdown performance, while Jamar Taylor allowed some yards after the catch early with a missed tackle.
- Per PFF, McCourty (83.8 overall grade) gave up 1 catch for 8 yards in 33 coverage snaps. On the season, they rank him as the No. 2 overall cornerback in the NFL (93.2 overall grade).
Safety
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Player | Plays | % | Stats |
S | Jabrill Peppers | 78 | 100% | 2 assists (2 combined). 1 pass defended. |
S | Derrick Kindred | 68 | 87% | 3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). |
- I thought we might see the Browns play with Jabrill Peppers’ usage this week, but they didn’t. PFF kept track of where Peppers and Derrick Kindred lined up:
Kindred played 34 of his 38 run snaps within eight yards of the line of scrimmage, while Peppers played just one of his 42 run snaps that close.
- Kindred added two more run stops, tying him for the league lead at the safety position. What I was disappointed in, for the second week in a row, was the touchdown allowed to TE Marcedes Lewis. While at the stadium, I give credit to the Jaguars: this was an excellent fake all-around. However, Kindred was walking toward Lewis while he was open in the end zone, before giving a late chase. If Kindred had not given up on the play, he still probably doesn’t deflect it initially, but maybe he makes Lewis nervous, forces a bobble, and then you never know.
In person Kindred quit on this ball more than video shows.
— Jake Burns (@jake_burns18) November 20, 2017
Also, just a really nice TE delay scheme from Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/K84nanvreB
—
The Browns’ defense allowed one touchdown in the game, and it came off of a short field from a Kizer interception. Jacksonville wasn’t a juggernaut on offense, but it’s still good to see them get the job done. Unfortunately, they never could generate that game-changing interception on Blake Bortles I was looking for, but hopefully they’re hungry to do it against the likes of Andy Dalton, Philip Rivers, and Brett Hundley in the coming weeks.